Log loading andiron



p 11, 1956 H. A. HAGER 2,762,363

LOG LOADING ANDIRON Filed Feb. 25, 1955 llll 7 a i/WENTOR Herman/Nigger LOG LOADEYG ANDIRON Herman A. Hagar, Rockford, lll.

Application February 25, 1955, Serial No. 490,648

4 Claims. (Cl. 126-298) This invention relates to a log raising andiron construction for use with a fireplace and the general object is to provide an andiron having normally upstanding posts which serve as the usual log barrier in front of the fire dogs but which are movable upwardly as a unit from a generally horizontal log loading position to transfer the log thereon into place upon the andiron proper.

Another object is to associate with the loading frame a novel device which operates automatically to latch the frame in upright position but which is easily and safely releasable by the user in spite of the substantial temperature the parts may attain in service use.

A further object is to provide a novel mounting which permits the loading frame to be swung back and forth between loading and operating positions and also detached quickly and conveniently from the andirons proper to facilitate initial laying of the fire.

The invention also resides in the novel and simple construction of the loading frame, the latching device and the frame mounting.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the andiron.

Fig. 2 is an end view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

For purposes of illustration, the invention is shown in the drawing embodied in an andiron having two spaced parallel fire dogs 11 maintained in fixed relationship by two transverse tie bars 12 connecting the front and rear portions of the fire dogs. If desired, a removable basket or, as in this instance a grating 13 comprising a plurality of parallel bars 14 held together by connecting rods 15 and nuts 16 may be placed as shown between the fire dogs 11. Aside from maintaining the fire dogs 11 in fixed relationship, the tie bars 12 also serve to support the grating 13 whose bars 14 are separated by spacers 17 which telescope over the connecting rods 15 and are interposed between the bars 14.

Extending upwardly at the front of the grating is a rectangular frame including a pair of spaced posts or andiron members 28 interconnected by two crossbars, a handle bar 18 at their top and a rod or axle 19 at their bottom. The andiron members have a decorative curved outline and may be cut from fiat metal stock or cast in a variety of shapes.

For the purpose of pivoting the frame to the fire dogs 11 and yet permitting bodily removal therefrom, the lower rod or axle 19 projects laterally beyond the andiron members 20 and is journaled in a pair of L-shaped notches 21 respectively formed in the upper edges of the fire dogs. Lateral centering is provided by collars 22 suitably fastened to the axle 19. Rearward movement of the andiron members 20 is limited by rearwardly projecting stops 23 formed integrally on the andiron members which stops strike the front tie bar 12.

2,762,363 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 In accordance with the present invention a novel latching mechanism 24 is provided between the andiron members 20 and the hearth which is capable of maintaining the members in a locked vertical position to form. a log barrier but which permits release for lowering to a generally horizontal position for loading a log 25 on the fire. The latch mechanism, which may take various forms, is shown herein as including an arm 26 fast on the axle 19 and, in the upright position of the members 20, projecting forwardly from the axle as shown in Fig. 1. In this instance, the arm has a triangular outline with an upwardly offset portion 27 which provides an intermediate stop to prevent the burning logs from slipping forwardly from the grate 13 and to hold a basket in place when the latter is used instead of the grating.

Suspended from the forwardly projecting end of the arm 26 is a pendant latch 28 having a lower end or shoe 29 which rests upon the hearth. In the present instance, the latch comprises two side walls 28 spaced apart to receive the arm 26 between them and rigidly joined along one edge to provide an intermediate ledge 28 which is offset laterally from the pivot 30 by which one end of the latch is freely suspended from the forwardly projecting end of the arm 26 which is straddled by the side walls of the latch. It will be apparent that when the andiron members 20 are in their normal vertical position (Fig. 1), the lower end of the pendant latch 28 engages the hearth, thereby securely locking the members in the position shown until such time as it is desired to feed the fire. Attention is drawn to the fact that the log loading frame is so mounted when in the vertical position that the center of mass of the frame is spaced outwardly from the axle 19 so that the tendency of the frame to swing downwardly presses the end 29 of the latch against the hearth. When the handle bar 18 is pushed in a horizontal direction and toward the grating, the

latch is raised slightly above the hearth and, with the aid of a suitable fireplace tool, may be pulled outwardly away from the grating and held in an over-center position as the andirons are being swung outwardly and downwardly. After the initial swinging, the latch may be released since it will engage the hearth and continue its clockwise swinging about the pivot 30 during the remaining counterclockwise swinging of the andiron members 20 to the horizontal position. In this position, the outer ends 20 rest on the hearth and, at a point between these ends and the axle 19, additional support is provided so as to obviate any danger of the grating frame being tipped under the weight of the logs 25 resting on the horizontally disposed members 20. Herein such support is provided by engagement of the edge 26 of the arm 26 with the ledge 28 of the latch 28 when the latter is in the limit position shown in Fig. 3.

In the practice of the invention, an operator places one or more logs 25 crosswise upon the andiron members 20 when the latter are in the horizontal or loading position. During loading the parts 26 and 28 are jackknifed together as shown in Fig. 3, with the arm 26 swung downwardly and with the latch member 28 lying horizontally on the hearth and its ledge 28 supporting the arm 26 and therefore the inner ends of the andirons.

When the handle 18 is gripped and the andiron mem bers 20 are swung into the vertical position, the logs resting thereon slide by gravity along the curved inner edge of the andiron members and onto the grating 13. During this action the arm 26 rotates clockwise, dragging the latch member 28 with it. The motion is arrested when the stops 23 on the andiron members 20 strike the front tie bar 12. With the andiron members 20 in their vertical limit position the pendant latch 28 is free to assume its vertical locking position. Then, when the user releases his grip upon the handle bar 18, the forwardly overbalanced weight of the frame presses the end 29 of the latch firmly against the hearth. To release the locked latch member 28, the handle 18 is swung outwardly permitting the latchto be released by a tool or by the toe of a shoe. In any event, upon such release, the andiron members 20 are free to swing outwardly and downwardly and again into the horizontal or log holding position.

As previously stated, a generally L-shaped notch 21 formed in the upper front end of each fire dog 11 is adapted to receive the end of the axle 19 in transverse relationship. In the normal position shown in full in Fig. 2, the axle 19 fitssnugly into the rear end of the slot 21 where it is free to rotate in contact with the smooth slot surfaces. Because of the collars 22,. the axle'occnpies a fixed endwise position with respect to the fire dogs 11. By gripping the handle 18 and pulling forwardly, the axle may he slid along the slot 21 to a position beneath an opening 31 from which the axle and the andiron assembly may be lifted upwardly to the position shown in phantom (Fig. 2) and thus removed from the main frame 11. if desired, keepers 32 may be provided for covering the openings 31, each of such keepers being held to a tire dog 11 by a pivot pin 33 about which the keeper may be laterally swung when the frame is to be removed. The ease of removability of the log loading frame from the fire dogs and grating facilitates initial laying of the tire as well as enables a rapid conversion of the andiron to use with a basket or as a refuse burner. Further, the detachable loading frame may be separately packaged for shipment thus reducing the bulk of the andiron when crated.

It has been found in practice that the rigid frame capable of supporting opposite ends of. a log in loading position may be employed to effect feeding of. a tire with log fuel even while the fire is burning. The loading arrangement does not disturb the already burning embers and danger to the user and surroundings is minimized.

It is to be noted that the provision of the handle bar connecting the outer ends of the andiron members not only provides leverage making it possible to load heavy logs easily but insures that balanced forces are applied to the two andiron members avoiding any tendency of the frame to cockas. it is swung upwardly.

I claim as my invention:

1. An andiron comprising laterally spaced fire dogsadapted torest ona fireplace.hearth, a frame comprising.

laterally spaced posts andtparallel crossbars spanning and rigidly joining the posts at their upper and lower ends.

Zontal log loading position with the opposite edge of the frame resting on said hearth, said posts whensaid frame is in said loading position being adapted to receive and support opposite end portions of a log which is transferred bodily ontosaid dogs as the frame is swung upwardly, and a latch mounted on said frame for movement relative thereto and rendered active automatically during swinging of said frame to said active position to hold the frame against backward swinging, said latch being releasable manually to permit swinging of the frame outwardly and downwardly to said loading position.

2. An andiron comprising laterally spaced fire dogs adapted to rest on a fireplace hearth, a frame comprising laterally spaced posts and parallel crossbars spanning and rigidly ioining the posts at their upper and lower ends to form a rigid unitary frame, means on the forward ends of the dogs pivotally supporting the lower corners of said frame for swinging of the latter between an active position upstanding from said dogs and a generally horizontal log loading position with the opposite edge of the frame resting on said hearth, said posts when said frame is in said loading position being adapted to receive andsuppor't opposite end portions of a log which is transferred bodily onto said dogs as the frame is swung upwardly, an arm rigid with and projecting forwardly from said lower crossbar when the frame is in said active position, and a latch 'pivotally suspended from said arm and engageable with saidhearth to hold said frame in active position, said latch being swingable horizontally to an over center position to release said arm and, by engagement with the hearth, remaining in such position during outward and downward swinging of the frame to said loading position.

3. An andiron comprising laterally spaced fire dogs adapted to rest on a fireplace hearth, notches in the forward ends of said fire dogs opening upwardly, a frame having an axle received in said notches so as to swing from a generally horizontal log loading position to an upright active position, said frame when in said loading position being adapted to receive and support a log to be transferred onto said fire dogs, and means on said clogs defining horizotnally elongated slots at the bottoms of said notches to permit horizontal shifting of said axle into and out of vertical alignment with said notches.

4. A log-loading andiron construction comprising, in combination, a laterally spaced pair of fire dogs adapted to rest on. a fireplace hearth, a rectangular frame includ ing a pair of normally vertical andiron members pivoted to said fire dogs at the front portions thereof, said frame having. a forwardly projecting arm rigid therewith and arranged for rotation downwardly upon forward swinging of the andiron members, and a pendant locking member. pivoted toatlie end ofsaid arm and normally in blocking engagement with the hearth for locking the andiron members in. their vertical position.

No references cited. 

